The contracts were signed in Istanbul on 18 June, making Turkish trade fair organiser Survey Fuarcilik Danismanlik Ltd. STI. a subsidiary of German firm Clarion Survey GmbH. The deal secures the long-term future of the successful B2B events ZOW (furniture and interior design), Z-TEC (woodworking and furniture production machinery) and new industry event BUILdIST in Istanbul.

The takeover is another key step in the development of Clarion Survey GmbH, based in Bielefeld, Germany, the organiser of B2B events ZOW, Focus Küche & Bad and FMB Zuliefermesse Maschinenbau. Survey Fuarcilik Danismanlik Ltd. STI. will continue to operate under its current name with a new management team in place comprising of Andy Baxter (Clarion Events Ltd.), Horst Rudolph (Clarion Survey GmbH), Chris Moore (Clarion Survey GmbH) and Süleyman Durdu (Survey Fuarcilik Danismanlik Ltd. STI.). This ensures the consistent planning, development and organisation of these trade fairs in Turkey.

Istanbul a key strategic foothold

Simon Kimble, CEO of Clarion Events Ltd. (London), the parent company of Clarion Survey GmbH, has great expectations of the recent acquisition: "We see huge potential for our trade fairs in Turkey and neighbouring countries. Istanbul is an international hub and a key strategic foothold for future activities. The acquisition of Survey Fuarcilik Danismanlik will enhance the international Clarion Events Ltd. network and open up exciting new opportunities in the region." Horst Rudolph adds: "We know how influential ZOW is in Istanbul. Its unique concept has become an established, future-proof format on the Turkish market. The pre-booking figures for the upcoming ZOW and Z-TEC in September speak for themselves, with over 80% of stands already booked. We are looking forward to the successful development as ZOW and Z-TEC go from strength to strength and an exciting start for BUILdIST in Turkey."

Bright prospects for ZOW and Z-TEC in Istanbul

Ever since it was first held in Istanbul in 2008, supplier fair ZOW has developed rapidly in the fast-growing Turkish market. The ZOW concept was completely new to Turkey and met with great enthusiasm, with the second edition in 2009 welcoming almost twice the number of visitors and exhibitors. In 2009 ZOW and Z-TEC were held simultaneously at the same location, linking the furniture industry in Turkey, the Black Sea region and the Middle East with the full spectrum of suppliers - an unprecedented industry platform for the region. The floor area of 25 000 sqm was occupied by 250 ZOW exhibitors and 60 Z-TEC exhibitors, and the Istanbul Expo Center welcomed some 19 000 visitors from Turkey and abroad. Between 16 - 19 September 2010, the Istanbul Expo Center will once again host ZOW (www.zow.com.tr) and Z-TEC (www.z-tec.com.tr) at the same time.

Great expectations for BUILdIST

The new construction event BUILdIST (www.BUILdIST.com.tr) will be held for the first time at the CNR EXPO Center from 30 September to 3 October. A joint project between Survey Fuarcilik Danismanlik and renowned Turkish architecture network Arkitera, BUILdIST will grow into a leading industry platform for design, architecture, innovation and future technologies in Turkey. The annual event will bring together key decision-makers from the European and Middle Eastern markets. BUILdIST is the Clarion Events' second investment in the construction sector after Arabian Construction Week in Abu Dhabi (www.arabianconstructionweek.com).

The target visitor group for BUILdIST includes Turkish and international experts from the construction and property sectors and construction trades, designers, architects, facility managers, specifiers, real estate developers, public servants and administrators, wholesalers, retailers, purchasing organisations and DIY and home improvement chains. With visitors of this calibre, BUILdIST is set to become a key event and essential forum and networking opportunity for the national and international construction industry in one of the world's fastest-growing market regions.